Electric fitting



July 12, 1927. ,635,903

I M. PETERSON ET AL ELECTRIC FITTING Filed Sent. 17 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .A'ITORNEYS.

July 12 1927' M. PETERSON ET AL ELECTRIC FITTING Filed Sept. 17 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E I I E wuy/f/d/augm w w w INVENTORS M 94 COL/Y7 Paw-5R3 ON MFR TIN Dnrv/s z s on! A ORNEYS.

Patented July 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,635,903 PATENT OFFICE.

MALCOLM PETERSON AND MARTIN J. DANIELSON, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASP SIGNORS TO THE BRYANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A

CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC FITTING.

Application filed September 17, 1924. Serial No. 738,196.

Our invention relates to electric fittings, and particularly to outlet fittings. The special object of our invention is to provide an outlet fitting having certain interchangeable elements by which the number of outlets on a single standard base may be varied to meet trade demands.

In the accompanying drawings--- Fig. 1 is a broken plan view of a single outlet fitting in which. our invention is cmbodied in one form;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the fitting with certain elements substituted to aitord a plurality of outlets;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the base with the face plate and cover block removed, and showing contacts for a single outlet of the type illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing contacts for a plural outlet of the character shown in Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sections on the lines 55, Fig. 1, and 6-6, Fig. 2, respectively;

Figs. 7 and 8 are inverted plan views of the receptacle body illustrating the shunt bars and outlet contact connections, and Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section on the line 99, Fig. 1.

While we have shown our invention applied to a combination fitting of the general type illustrated in the patent to Thomas No. 1,100,505, it will be understood that it is applicable to other outlet fittings without departure from our invention. In fittings of this switch-bulls-eye outlet type the trade demands both single and plural outlets. It has heretofore been customary to manufacture and carry in stock a complete line of fittings for each type of outlet combination since the bases, conductors, etc, have been unlike. Inasmuch as fittings of this character are large and expensive, the maintenance of adequate stock has been not only expensive, but it has incidentally necessitated a large storage area for its accommodation.

Our invention provides a fitting having a standard base adapted to receive the appropriate contacts and cover elements for either single or plural outlet types. Inasmuch as the cover blocks are'small and may in fact be those of a standard separate outlet fitting,

the capital invested in stock may be materially reduced as well as the necessary storage space and handling expense.

The fitting shown is of popular combination type, comprising switch, bulls-eye and outlet receptacle. The base 10, upon which these three units are assembled, is shaped at one end to receive a detachable switch mechanism 11 which, upon insertion, engages the wire terminals 12 and 13. The switch bars (not shown) make and break connection between these terminals and associated switch contacts 14 and 15. Let into the lower face of the base are shunt bars 16 and 17 connected by screws 18 and 19 to the switch contacts 14 and 15, thus leading current to the shunt bars 16 and 17 when the switch is in circuit-closing position.

Adjacent the switch chamber, the base 10 is recessed to accommodate'the lamp 20, the screw shell and center contacts 21 and 22 of which, engage the socket contacts 23 and 24. Current is led to the latter from, the shunts 16 and 17 by screw 25 taking into the base of the contact clip 23, and screw 26 taking into the base of the spring contact 24.

Beyond the lamp chamber the base is recessed from its face to form a depressed ledge 27 in the upper surface of which are formed parallel channels 28 and 29 for the reception of receptacle contact bases 30 and 31. The ledge is pierced to accommodate screw bolts 32 and 33 which pass through the base and establish electrical connection between the shunt bars 16 and. 17 and the contact straps 30 and 31, which are also mechanically held in position thereby.

Resting upon the ledge 27 is a cover block 34 suitably apertured to receive the contacts 35 and 36 carried by the base straps 30 and 31. The cover block 34 is secured in position by screw bolts 37 and 38 passing through the base and taking into supporting lugs 39 and 40 by which the fitting may be mounted in an outlet box (not shown) and to which also the cover plate 41 may be se- 100 cured by screws 42. The cover plate is apertured to accommodate the boss 43 of the receptacle cover block, and also carries the bulls-cye jewel. 44 which overlies the lamp 20. It is also pierced to permit the play of the push buttons 45 and 46 of the switch 11.

It will be noted in Fig. 3 that the channels 28 and 29 on the face of the ledge 27 are of greater length than the base straps 30 and 31 of the outlet contacts 35 and 36. This renders itpossible to mount upon the ledge, contact base straps 47 and 48 for a plural outlet receptacle. Thus the strap 47 carries at its opposite ends the contacts 49 and 50, while the strap 48 carries contacts 51 and 52. The cover block 53 for the plural outlet is shaped to receive both pairs of contacts 49-51 and -52, and to afford guide apertures in the bosses 54 and 55 for the blades of a pair of cooperating attachment plugs. The same screw bolts 32 and 33 take into the stra s 47 and 48 and serve to electrically and mechanically connect these straps with the shunt bars 16 and 17. Supplemental holding screws 56 and 57 may be provided if necessary.

Inasmuch as the contact chambers and bosses 54 and 55 lie at the opposite ends of the cover block 53, the latter is preferably held in position upon the base by screw bolts 58 and 59 passing through the base and taking into nuts 60 and 61 accommodated in recesses 62 and 63 intermediate the bosses 54 and 55. In the same intermediate area the cover block 53 may be provided with a tapped socket 64 adapted to receive a screw 65 by which the cover plate 66 is secured in position. Supporting lugs 67 and 68 for this end of the fitting may be secured in the recesses which accommodate the heads of the bolts 37 and 38, while the heads of the securing screws 69 and 70 are accommodated below the surface of the ledge 27 in pockets 71 and 72.

Thus with the standard base 10 it is poss'ible to provide a fitting of the single or" plural outlet type by the simple operation of mounting either contact bases 30, 31 (Fig. 3) or the contact bases 4748 (Fig. 4) in the channels 28--29 on the .face of the ledge 2-7 and associating therewith either the single outlet ty e of ca 34 (Fig. 1) or the plural type 0 cap 53 Fig. 2), together with 1e associated supporting lugs 39- -40, or 67--68. The economies which result will be readily realized.

As above stated the invention is applicable to various types of outlet fittings and we do not limit our invention to the sWitch-bulls-eye-outlet combination shown. For example, the bulls-eye may be omitted or the switch may be omitted.

Various other layouts will also suggest themselves to those dealing with the problem which do not depart from what we claim as our invention.

We olaim- An electric fitting comprising an insulating base, a plurality of electrical devices of different character mounted on one face of the base, shunt bars located on the 0pposite face of the" base and electrically connected to said devices, wire terminals electrically connected to the shunt bars, said base being recessed at one end to form a depressed ledgeshaped to interchangeably receive the bases ofcontacts differently located thereon, mean establishing electrical connection between said shunt bars and said contact bases, together with cover block means shaped to the ledge and to the contacts mounted thereon, and having a depth substantially coincident with the depth of the ledge, means for holding the cover block in position on the base, and means for supporting the base in an outlet box or the like.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

MALCOLM PETERSON. MARTIN J. DANIELSON. 

